Paris attacks: France to go ahead with UN Climate Change summit amidst tight security

Three teams of extremists carried out the coordinated gun-and-suicide bombing attacks across Paris that left 129 people dead and 352 injured, a French prosecutor said on Saturday. He also confirmed that seven 'terrorists' were dead in Paris attacks. 

To read the complete story, click here: Death toll rises to 129, 352 hurt, says French prosecutor

As France boosts security in the wake of Friday night's deadly Paris attacks, airlines are being warned they will be fined if they fail to ensure that passengers entering the country have valid identity papers.

Read the full story here: Airlines entering France told to check IDs of every passenger or risk fines

Belgian police on Saturday arrested a man during searches in a district of Brussels, the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported. 

RTBF also reported that police searches were continuing in the Molenbeek district of Brussels. Its website quoted a source close to the operations as saying there had been "between two and three searches, linked to the Paris attacks" and that one man had been arrested.

The UN climate conference will go ahead as planned near Paris later this month despite the terror attacks that killed 128 people in the French capital, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Saturday.

"COP21 must be held," Fabius said, using the conference's name, but he added security would be increased. 

Frenchman arrested at London Gatwick airport with weapon, tweeted AFP. 

U.S. President Barack Obama is slated to be briefed by his top advisers on Saturday on the latest intelligence on Friday's deadly attacks in Paris, a White House official said.

"Before departing for the G20 Summit, the president will convene his National Security Council to review the latest intelligence surrounding the attacks in Paris," the official said.

Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for the coordinated assault by gunmen and bombers that killed 127 people across Paris. President Francois Hollande said the attacks amounted to an act of war against France.

France-bound airliner has been grounded at Amsterdam airport after a threatening tweet was received, reports Reuters. 

A police spokesman said that authorities had been searching the flight, operated by Franco-Dutch airline Air FranceKLM and which had been due to depart around 1345 GMT, for around an hour. 

Police evacuated the North Terminal at Britain's second busiest airport, Gatwick, which is 30 miles south of London, after what they described as "suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item at the airport". The man was arrested and bomb disposal experts were called to investigate the item.

Read the full report here: Gatwick Airport reopened after terror alert, police arrest suspect

The Paris police has managed to identify one of the suspects who may have been involved in Friday night's deadly attacks. The suspect is believed to be a Parisian and was identified using his fingerprints. 

Meanwhile, a Syrian passport has been retrieved from one of the suicide bombers. One of them is reportedly only 15 years of age. 

An attack survivor speaks to AFP and speaks of the 'bloodbath'. Watch:

According to AFP, 300 victims have been hospitalised after Paris attacks, 80 are in 'critical' condition. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday condemned Friday's deadly attacks by Islamic State in Paris but said the West's "flawed" policies in Syria, especially that of France, was partly to blame.

Read more here: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says France's 'flawed' policy in Middle East partly to blame for attacks

Following the Paris attacks, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has taken review of the security situation in Maharashtra with DG Pravin Dixit. CM Fadnavis instructed Dixit to exercise utmost care and high alert to prevent any untoward situation in the state.

Read the full report here: Security tightened across Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis reviews measures

Pope Francis said on Saturday he was "shaken" by what he described as the "inhuman" attacks on a string of Paris venues which left at least 128 people dead.

"I am shaken, I don't understand these things, done by human beings... There cannot be justification, religious or human. It's inhuman," an emotional pontiff pope said during a telephone interview with TG2000 television. 

After France President Francois Hollande announced that he will not attend the G20 Summit, sources said that France's Finance and Foreign Ministers will be attending the summit in Turkey. 

Public demonstrations will be banned in Paris and the surrounding area until Thursday following the series of deadly attacks, police said on Saturday.

City authorities cannot "provide security for specific marches or gatherings" in the wake of Friday's attacks that killed at least 128 people and wounded more than 250, many of them seriously, Paris police chief Michel Cadot said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is currently on his three-day visit to London condemned the Paris attack while speaking at Dr. BR Ambedkar memorial.

PM Modi condemns #ParisAttacks, calls it "an attack on humanity" pic.twitter.com/YVJACTAMnp

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 14, 2015

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks in Paris. According to Reuters, Islamic State has said that Paris attacks were a response to the insults of Islam's prophet and airstrikes in Islamic State Territory. 

Read the full story here: Islamic State jihadists claims Paris attacks that killed 128

 Schools, markets, museums and major tourist sites in the Paris area were closed and sporting fixtures were cancelled following the terror attacks.

"All city facilities are closed today," Paris City Hall said on its website.

The list comprised schools, museums, libraries, sports halls, swimming pools, tennis courts, food markets and district town halls.

Islamic State video calls on Muslims to carry out attacks in France

According to Reuters, Islamic State released an undated video on Saturday urging Muslims who are unable to travel to Syria to wage holy war to carry out attacks in France, a day after gunmen and bombers killed at least 120 people in Paris.

"Indeed you have been ordered to fight the infidel wherever you find him - what are you waiting for? There are weapons and cars available and targets ready to be hit," said an Islamic State militant, flanked by other fighters, in the video.

"Even poison is available, so poison the water and food of at least one of the enemies of Allah."

A provisional toll from Paris attacks on Friday put the number of dead at 128 while another 99 were in critical condition.

Merkel says Germany will fight terrorism side-by-side with France

Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would help France to hunt down the perpetrators of the Paris attacks and that Berlin would jointly battle the fight against terrorism with France to defend European values.

"The people in Paris are enduring a nightmare of violence, terror and fear," Merkel said in Berlin. "We, the German friends, we are feeling with them. We are crying with them."

"This attack on freedom is not only aimed against Paris. It's aimed against us all," Merkel said, adding that Europe would stand united to defend its values.

"We know that our free life is stronger than terror."

Mumbai on high alert after Paris attack

In the wake of deadly terror strike in Paris, security was stepped around major establishments across various cities of Maharashtra, including Mumbai which has been often targeted by terrorists.

"All police units have been asked to review and access control measures at places with heavy footfall," Director General of Police, Maharashtra, Praveen Dixit said.

"Owners and managers of such places have also been asked to do mock drills to avoid any possible untoward incidents," Dixit said.

No Indian injured or harmed, says official​

There have been no Indian casualties so far in the horrific Paris attacks where around 120 people are feared dead.

"There have been no Indian casualties so far. Some called us for aid and we have helped them in every way," Manish Prabhat, Deputy Chief of Mission in France told ANI exclusively.

He added that the help line number has been opened since the attack began last night and are ready to extend their help to any stranded Indian citizen or concerned kin.

"No one has asked us yet to be sent back home," Prabhat added.

No Indian casualties so far. Some called us for aid & we helped them: Manish Prabhat, Deputy Chief of Mission in France to ANI

Iran's Rouhani brands Paris attacks 'crimes against humanity'

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned the deadly attacks in Paris, branding them "crimes against humanity" in a message to his French counterpart Francois Hollande, the official media said.

"In the name of the Iranian people, who have themselves been victims of terrorism, I strongly condemn these crimes against humanity and offer my condolences to the grieving French people and government," Rouhani wrote, according Irna news agency.

G20 host Turkey says stands with France in fight against terrorism

Turkey, which hosts a summit of world leaders this weekend, condemned attacks by gunmen and bombers in Paris as a crime against humanity and said it stood in full cooperation with France and its allies in the fight against terrorism.

"These attacks are not only against the French people but all humanity, democracy, freedoms and universal values. Terror has no religion, no nationality and represents no values. Terrorism is a crime against humanity," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office said in a statement.

Eight terrorists dead

According to guardian, as per the update from the prosecutor’s office eight extremists are dead, seven of them in suicide bombings.

China's Xi says willing to join France in combating terrorism

China is ready to join France and the international community in stepping up security cooperation and combating terrorism, President Xi Jinping told French President Francois Hollande on Saturday.

In a telephone call to Hollande, Xi also condemned Friday's attacks, offering condolences to the victims and their families, according to comments published on the Chinese foreign ministry website.

* One of the targeted restaurants, Le Carillon, is in the same general neighborhood as the Charlie Hebdo offices, as is the Bataclan, among the best-known venues in eastern Paris, near the trendy Oberkampf area known for a vibrant nightlife.

* Among the first physicians to respond to the wounded Friday was Patrick Pelloux, an emergency room doctor and former Charlie Hebdo writer who was among the first to enter the offices Jan. 7 to find his friends and colleagues dead.

Air France: maintains all flights after Paris attacks, expects delays

French carrier Air France said on Saturday that it will maintain all flights to and from France after attacks in Paris prompted the government to decree a state of emergency and reinforce border controls.

"Following the events in Paris on Nov.13, Air France confirms that all its upcoming flights to/from France is maintained," the company said in a statement.

It said delays are to be expected due to the reinforcement of border controls by authorities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his deep condolences to Hollande and all the people of France following the "horrible terrorist attacks in Paris", the Kremlin said in a statement.

"Russia strongly condemns this inhumane killing and is ready to provide any and all assistance to investigate these terrorist crimes."

Video of attack in Paris - #ParisAttacks

Video of attack in Paris - #ParisAttacks pic.twitter.com/lFbvk5A6iC

— Anonymous (@C0d3fr0sty) November 14, 2015

Soccer fans sing 'La Marseillaise' as they are evacuated after the #ParisAttacks. 

Soccer fans sing 'La Marseillaise' as they are evacuated after the #ParisAttacks. Updates: https://t.co/l9iEx03v1h https://t.co/MvJ4IieD2n

— The Australian (@australian) November 14, 2015

Julien Pearce, a journalist from Europe 1 radio, was inside the concert hall when the shooting began. In an eyewitness report posted on the station's website, Pearce said several very young individuals, who were not wearing masks, entered the hall while the concert was under way armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and started "blindly shooting at the crowd".

* The Paris metro railway was closed and schools, universities and municipal buildings were ordered to stay shut on Saturday. However some rail and air services are expected to run.

* All emergency services were mobilised, police leave was cancelled, 1,500 army reinforcements were drafted into the Paris region and hospitals recalled staff to cope with the casualties.

Hollande cancelled plans to travel to Turkey at the weekend for a G20 summit.

American Airlines delays Paris flights; United operates as planned

American Airlines Group , the world's biggest carrier by passenger traffic, said on Friday it was delaying flights to Paris in response to the explosions and shooting attacks there, even though French airports remained open.

"Currently Charles de Gaulle International Airport is open, however, we are holding our remaining departures this evening to Paris until we have additional information," American Airlines spokesman Joshua Freed said.

United Continental Holdings said its three scheduled flights would still depart for Paris on Friday evening from hubs in Chicago, Newark and Washington, D.C. "We're operating our schedule as planned," spokesman Charles Hobart said.

A Delta spokesman had no comment.

Facebook sets up safety check for Paris friends

Facebook launched a check-in feature to let people know that friends in Paris were safe after a series of bombings and shootings in the French capital killed at least 120 people.

The "Paris Terror Attacks" safety check let people signal whether they were out of harm's way, then notified all those they know at the leading social network.

"Quickly find and connect with friends in the area," a message at the Facebook Safety Check page read. "Mark them safe if you know they're OK."

French President Francois Hollande cancelled his participation to this weekend's G20 meeting in Turkey following the deadly attacks in Paris, government sources told Reuters on Saturday.

A diplomatic source said Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who will first go to Vienna for the Syria talks, will attend the G20 meeting instead.

Embassies in Paris: +31-1-xxxxxxxx

Mexico: 53702770 | Finland: 44181920 | Greece: 47237228 | Poland: 43173405 | Portugal: 47273529

Philippines: 44145700 | Belarus: 44146979 | Afghanistan: 45250529 | Costa Rica: 45789696 | Iceland: 44173285

Pakistan: 45622332 | Sri Lanka: 55733131 | Germany: 53834500 | Russia: 45040550 | Ireland: 44176700

Qatar says Paris attacks against all human, moral values

Attacks in Paris that killed more than 100 people violate all human and moral values, Qatar's foreign minister said in a statement.

"The state of Qatar, through its foreign minister, strongly condemns these heinous attacks that have struck the French capital causing so many victims," Khaled al-Attiyah said in a statement sent to Reuters by the embassy in Paris.

"These acts, which target stability and security in France are against all human and moral values," he added. 

US military says it is "reasonably certain" strike killed "Jihadi John"

The US military is "reasonably certain" a US drone strike killed the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John," a British citizen who appeared in videos of militants beheading Western journalists and aid workers, a spokesman said on Friday.

The militant, Mohammed Emwazi, was thought to have been killed in the Syrian town of Raqqa by a US drone firing a Hellfire missile, but the military still needed final verification, said Army Colonel Steve Warren, a spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State.

"We are reasonably certain that we killed Jihadi John," Warren told a Pentagon briefing, adding it "will take some time to confirm."

Obama condemns Paris attacks, says attack on 'all of humanity'

US President Barack Obama has condemned the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris saying that the attack is not just on France but on all of humanity and the universal values and also pledged to work with France to bring those responsible to justice.

"Once again we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris; it's an attack not just on the people of France. But this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share," Obama told reporters.

Hollande, who was attending an international soccer match with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier when several explosions took place outside the national stadium, declared a state of emergency in the Paris region and announced the closure of France's borders to stop perpetrators escaping.

"This is a horror," the visibly shaken president said in a midnight television address to the nation before chairing an emergency cabinet meeting.

All emergency services were mobilised, police leave was cancelled and hospitals recalled staff to cope with the casualties.